The government has approved nearly one billion baht to finance royally initiated projects which aim to further eradicate opium plantations and develop farming nationwide.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, middle, applauds after a hilltribe child sang to welcome him during his visit to the Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Research Centre in Chiang Mai's Fang district.
The budget will be divided into two portions — over 547 million baht for 38 development centres under the Royal Project Foundation and about 356 million baht for 29 expanded projects, according to a resolution of the coordinating committee on royally initiated projects.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha chaired the committee's first meeting, held in Chiang Mai's Fang district on Wednesday.
"We will develop the projects in accordance with His Majesty the King's initiatives," Gen Prayut said ahead of the meeting.
Among the projects that will receive state support is one to encourage hill-tribe people to plant winter crops to replace opium, formerly notorious in some parts of northern Thailand.
The move aims to solve drug problems by reducing the supply of narcotics and leading ethnic minority groups toward honest and more sustainable careers, Gen Prayut said.
Other projects also support the government's efforts to boost farmers' incomes.
Authorities have agreed to follow the King's agricultural advice including irrigation development and farm zoning, which emphasises appropriate land use by planting crops in the most suitable areas.
The officials believe the measures will help increase the standard of living of farmers.
Gen Prayut yesterday also said the government will make sure all aspects of royally initiated projects from research to marketing will be managed well.
Adding value to products under the projects and distributing them to consumers are also being planned, he said.
The prime minister said the government's plans will be environmentally aware to ensure that people and nature can co-exist.